In the heart of the village of Eldora, nestled within the protective embrace of the Whispering Woods, the villagers gathered around a roaring bonfire. The flames danced in the cool night air, casting flickering shadows on the faces of those who had come to hear the tale that had been passed down through generations.
Among the assembly sat Old Baren, one of the village's eldest, his long white beard shimmering in the firelight. His eyes, though clouded with age, still held the spark of wisdom and knowledge. He raised a hand, calling for silence, and the murmurs of the crowd gradually died down. All eyes were on him as he began to speak.
"Four hundred years ago," Baren began, his voice steady and resonant, "this world was a different place. They say people lived amidst advanced technologies, a time when health was never a concern and they were almost immortal."
The children leaned forward, eyes wide with anticipation, while the adults exchanged knowing glances. They had heard this tale before, but each retelling brought with it a renewed sense of wonder and awe.
"In those days," Baren continued, "they say people lived in peace and harmony. But after the great war between the realms of Heaven and the Underworld, that place vanished from the surface of the world."
A hushed silence fell over the crowd as they imagined the world that had been lost. Baren paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. When he spoke again, he described it vividly: "Suddenly, there was a bright light—a light that once illuminated the entire world."
"As the light faded away, they spoke of the heavenly realm's defeat in the war. The God had sacrificed Himself for the people of the world. The Angels who lost in the battle are now bound to this world and live among us. They await the rebirth of the God to rescue them from this realm."
Baren's voice lowered, taking on a somber tone. "As darkness enveloped the land, countless monsters emerged from the abyss."
Baren's voice lowered, taking on a somber tone. "As darkness enveloped the land, countless monsters emerged from the abyss."
He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. The villagers were silent, their faces reflecting the gravity of his tale. Baren took a deep breath and concluded, "And so, the angels wait, bound to this world, hoping for the day the God will be reborn and deliver us from this darkness." With that, he fell silent, leaving the villagers to ponder the haunting story and the glimmer of hope within it.
As Baren concluded his tale, a voice from the back of the crowd interrupted, followed by a light smack to the old man's head. "Come on, pops, enough with these fanciful stories," Riven, Baren's grandson, chided. "People are starting to talk."
"You didn't have to hit me to stop me," Baren yelled, rubbing his head.
The villagers laughed, knowing this playful banter was typical of their relationship.
Both stopped, with Riven not wanting his grandfather to embarrass him further with his fantastical narratives. Baren simply nodded, understanding his grandson's concern. With a gentle pat on Riven's shoulder, they silently made their way home, leaving the villagers to ponder the tale in their own way.
As they walked home, Riven couldn't resist but tell his grandfather to refrain from sharing stories that weren't true with the entire village. However, Baren calmly asserted that the tales were indeed true, passed down through generations to generations.
Then Riven hold a pendant and began to question, "If what you say is true, where are the Angels you speak of? If they truly exist and the Angels that is left in this world after the war, shouldn't they be here to aid us in these dark times?"
As Baren reflected on the day he discovered Riven, a mere child with only a pendant left near him, he couldn't help but recall the harrowing scene. Riven had been the lone survivor amidst the devastation of a brutal monster attack, his innocent eyes wide with fear and confusion.
Baren sighed, feeling a pang of sorrow. "Alright, alright," he said gently. "I won't tell any more tales if you don't want me to, but remember, the stories I tell are not lies."
Riven, weary and troubled, simply replied, "Let's just go home."
"As they neared home, they found themselves encircled by a horde of monstrous creatures. Riven's heart raced with alarm. 'Why are there monsters infesting the village? And why hasn't any warning signal been raised? What's going on here?"
As the warning bell rang out, signaling an imminent attack, Riven sprang into action. He recognized the threat: monsters invading. But how had they breached the village without detection?
After taking down a few monsters, Riven seized the opportunity to flee with his grandfather. As they ran, Riven teased, "What have you been eating this time? You're as heavy as a boar!"
Baren replied, "Why,do you think only kids can enjoy and eat a lot?" They continued to banter as they hurried on.
Reaching the village center, they found themselves amidst a fierce battle, with villagers
fighting off a swarm of monsters.